40 Super loads

Retrieved: 08/17/2016
Last Post: 02/22/2012

Anyone have any GOOD safe load info for 40 Super? Seems there is not much info at all out there for 40 Super, and what I can find of the Triton info I am told is rather hoakie.

AF FAL
08-13-2009

As luck would have it I turned up Tony Rumore and he hooked me up with 5 pages of load data for the 40 Super for me to start with.

MP5KA1
08-28-2009

My .40 Super is a Springfield .45 Super with a .40 Super Bar-Sto barrel with a full profile 3 port comp. I use a 24# recoli spring. The barrel is a standard non-ramped design and this is the weak point in my set up.

I contacted Tony sometime ago and got some 14 plus pages of load data he used in the development of the cartridge. His data is pretty close but individual differences from one gun to the next must be considered. My non-ramped barrel keeps me from realizing the full potential of the cartridge. I start to see the brass buldge in this unsupported area if pressures get to high.

I also cannelure all my bullets to allow me to taper crimp each round to help prevent bullet setback during the recoil / feed cycle.

Tony was able to achieve 1800 fps with 135gr JHPs. I maxed out at 1745 fps using AA#9. Once I saw brass bulging I backed off. To save brass and my health, I load at 19.5 grs AA#9 instead of the 20.5 listed as max. I get good groups (1.5") at 1670 fps and can still use the brass. 1.250" OAL.

Blue Dot is also good but produces a lot of flash.

There was no load data for 155 gr bullets but I have a favorite using a 155 gr XTP on top of 15.3 grs of AA#7. I use a Fed 200 to touch it off and keep Max OAL to 1.270". This load is by no means maxed out, but it yields 1490 fps with a SD of 6. Groups are in the 1 inch range off the bench at 25 yards. I'm happy.

There are 3 pages that Tony sent that summarize his load development. The bullet weights are 135, 165, and 200.

Maximum velocities are 1700, 1600, and 1400 fps respectively. Is this the data you have?

I'm wishing for an STI Eagle in 40 Super. This is one hot round that is going unnoticed.

AF FAL
08-29-2009

I wrote to STI asking for any info they had on the pistols they built, but as everyone already knows they stopped making them at all, not even parts from what they told me.

My growing pistol is a scratch build, Caspian frame/long slide and a 6" KKM ramped barrel. Since I am going with the long slide I may have it magna ported after I get to do some testing with it. This is my first venture with the .40 Super, so I'll see how it all works once I get to work with some loads.

Thanks for the tip on the 155 gr loads, I didn't get anything from him for 155, and that is more or less a general purpose bullet for me, I have several 10mm and .40 S&W pistols already. I'll have to look at the data that Tony sent, but I think there was a little on 180 gr bullets too.

How is your pistol for handling, easy double taps or is it a handful?

AF FAL
08-31-2009

MP5KA1: I forgot to ask, what dies are you using? All I can find at the moment is steel dies from Redding. I would like a set of carbide if I can get my hands on some.

MP5KA1
09-02-2009

The dies I use are Redding steel also. I use some Hornady One Shot on the brass. I have found after 28 years of reloading that this is the best current bullet lube. Not messy, quick drying, and won't adversely affect your powder and primers. I use an old cookie sheet and spread the brass on it, spray on the lube, (it dries in about 2 minutes) and start reloading. Occasionally you will need to clean the dies (500 rounds or so) to get build up out, but this can also depend on how clean your brass is before you resize.

If you find data on the 180 Grain bullets, let me know. I have developed some 180 loads, but I haven't found one that reaches the accuracy and low SD numbers like the previously mentioned 155 grain load.

I will probably end up buying an STI and rebarreling it with a Bar Sto. I too had communication with Jay at STI. They don't seem interested in building a .40 Super. Business is too good for them on standard offerings right now. 8)

MP5KA1
09-02-2009

OH, forgot to mention, double taps are a breeze, The comp and 24# recoil spring make it easier to handle that shooting .45 ACP hardball in a non comped configuration. It's very easy to stay on target and just keep hammering.

Bill Caldwell
09-11-2009

40 Super is my favorite round for the 1911, all things considered... I won't print any loadings I use but I'll tell you this, 180 gr. bullets can be loaded to 1800 fps, trying to get past 1800 fps, PRIMERS GO TO HELL FAST... I've had the primers lock the firing pin out by oozing around and into the firing pin hole... the .40 Super can run with the .41 Mag.

Fernando Coelho
04-15-2011

The .40 Super was intended to have a small primer pocket. In our development stage of the cartridge, we had way too may issues with primer flow when using a large pistol primer pocket. This happened even with loads that were not at the max pressure levels. When we went with the small primer pocket, this allowed us to run small rifle primers. Primer flow issues went away then.

Starline Brass was the company that worked with us in developing the .40 Super brass. I can't speak for any other company's cartridge case.

Wild Bill Caldwell
04-15-2011

I havent had time to dig up my notes on the 40 Super, but I think the powder I had the best results with was Lil Gun... loads were compressed loads. Small rifle primers, best I remember magnum primers seem to flow at about the same loading as standard.

.45 Super, 40 Super, are nothing new, cut off 270 cases to .997, ream to hold the 45 bullet, that's the real .45 Super. Again primers will always limit how fast you can go... Same 270 case necked to hold the .40 bullet is the .40 Super. I know this has been done since the 1940s so it is DAMM SURE nothing new.

Fernando Coelho
04-15-2011

There is very little new in modern cartridge designs. Only improvements on old concepts. That is a given. The major step forward is when a cartridge like the .45 Super or the .40 Super can be bought in the store because of being factory loaded. Now it's no longer a wildcat and many variables have been eliminated.

Fernando Coelho
04-15-2011

The .40 Super started its life around 1999 as a factory loaded cartridge. Triton Cartridge (the company I founded) developed the .40 Super with assistance from Tom Burczynski and marketed versions in the Quik-Shok line as well as the Hi-Vel and even the CQ Frangible loading. At one time there were seven factory loadings of the cartridge. Production ceased in 2002.

Factory loads were able to achieve 1,800 fps with the 135 grain JHP, 1,500 fps with the 165 grain JHP, and 1,300 fps with the 200 grain JHP. This was achieved using commercial powders. Load development was done with a strict adherence to pressure testing.

Can higher velocities be achieved with the .40 Super? Yes. However, because we were producing factory ammo we could not control the idiot factor. Thus we did not push the ammo to the limit. If someone is using a barrel with an unsupported chamber, the factory loads are as fast as you want to go. If you have a barrel with an integral feed ramp and greater support of the case walls, then 2,000 fps can be achieved with the 135 grain load. I did that with S&W 4506 during load development.

All this is predicated on using Starline produced .40 Super brass. If any other rifle case is used to create a .40 Super wildcat, then there will be differences in case wall thickness, case web thickness, etc. Without pressure testing loads in that type of brass, I cannot say it is a safe approach.

TonyRumore
06-07-2011

Fernando... man, it's been a long time. I still use that .40 Super that Niemer built for me back in '98 for hog hunting.

The .40 Super seems to be getting some legs lately. I have been getting a lot more requests for my load data in the last 6 months than ever before.

Wild Bill Caldwell
12-21-2011

Storm Lake barrels were the lower price barrels when I started doin business with them a long time back. Looking at their web site now they may be the highest priced. I haven't bought a barrel from anyone in three years or more so I can't say. First .40 Super barrels I bought from them, I had a HELLOFA TIME getting them to understand the chamber end or barrel hood if You prefer had to be 45 dimensions (outside) with a started chamber (45) (short) of 1/2 in depth.

Guess what I'm trying to get across for those of you that haven't worked with the .40 Super is a .40 Super barrel needs to be a 45 barrel (hood width) on the outside, .40 caliber bore. There may be l40 Super barrels out there of different configurations, all I know is when we started HOTTRODDIN 1911s we sleeved 45 barrels to .40, cut off rifle brass to make cases... granted you can weld up the barrel hood on 40 cal barrels, and probably be safe, maybe, I doubt very much pressure gets outside the case.

40 Super 1911
12-21-2011

Ya, the .40 slide is narrower at the hood cutout than the 45. I am asduming they know that by now. Unfortunately I don't know of any other barrel maker that makes a .40 Super barrel. Maybe some smaller guy does somewhere, but none that I have found through extensive searching. Looks like I'll be waiting till Jan. (I called today and they said end of next week before they even finish it, so basically they haven't even started it yet). If I could find another option, I'd tell em to shove it.

tperrett
12-29-2011

I had Fusion make my barrel, it was an inch too long and won't drop into my Springfield longslide. It will need some special attention to fit. Fusion said to open up the bushing but I don't believe that will fix it, only wreck the bushing. I will be sending the barrel back to get it cut down and either send the gun and have it fit or just have them make me one of their semi customs with that barrel. I also ordered 2000 thousand cases from Starline 2 months ago. Bob at Fusion is good to work with so far, always answers the phone or email promptly.

TonyRumore
02-22-2012

I still have the original load data that I worked up back in early 1998. However, the brass that I used was different than what is available today. The stuff I had, came from Starline in a straight walled configuration with one batch being head stamped 45 Colt and the other 45 Win Mag. Both used large primers and had to be run through the .40 Super size die before use.

E-mail me at Tony.Rumore@Tromix.com and I will forward you the data.